Brain Cancer Learning Center

Brain Cancer

Overview

What
Is Brain Cancer?

Brain cancer is an overgrowth of cells in your brain that forms masses
called tumors. Cancerous, or malignant, brain tumors tend to grow very quickly.
They disrupt the way your body works, and this can be life-threatening.
However, brain cancer is quite uncommon. According to estimates from the American
Cancer Society, people have less than a 1 percent chance of developing a
malignant brain tumor in their lifetime.

What
Are the Symptoms of Brain Cancer?

The symptoms of brain cancer depend on the size and location of
the tumor.

Common brain cancer symptoms include:

headaches that are usually worse in the morning

nausea

vomiting

a lack of coordination

a lack of balance

difficulty walking

memory lapses

difficulty thinking

speech problems

vision problems

personality changes

abnormal eye movements

muscle jerking

muscle twitching

unexplained passing out, or syncope

drowsiness

numbness or tingling in the arms or legs

seizures

Many of the symptoms of brain cancer are also caused by other, less
serious conditions. There’s no need to panic if you’re experiencing these
symptoms, but it’s a good idea to visit your doctor to have your symptoms
investigated, just in case.

Causes
and Risk Factors for Brain Cancer

The exact cause of brain cancer is unknown. However, factors that
can increase your risk of brain cancer include exposure to high doses of
ionizing radiation and a family history of brain cancer.

Cancer in another part of your body is also a risk factor. Cancers
that commonly spread, or metastasize, to the brain include:

lung cancer

breast cancer

kidney cancer

bladder cancer

melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer

Other factors that might be related to developing brain cancer
include:

increased age

long-term smoking

exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilizer

working with elements that can cause cancer,
such as lead, plastic, rubber, petroleum, and some textiles

having an Epstein-Barr virus infection, or
mononucleosis

Types
of Brain Cancer

Cancer is named based on where in your body it begins. Brain
cancer begins in your brain. This is sometimes referred to as primary brain cancer. You can also have
cancer that has spread to your brain after starting somewhere else in your
body. This is called metastatic
brain cancer. Cancerous tumors in the brain are typically metastatic and
not due to primary brain cancer.

There are also types and grades of brain tumors. The tumor type
is based on where it’s located in your brain, and the grade indicates how
quickly a tumor grows. The grades range from 1 to 4. Grade 4 has the fastest
growth.

There are more than 120 types of brain tumors. However, there’s
no standard for naming them according to type, and there are many subtypes.
Different doctors might use different names for the same tumor.

How
Is Brain Cancer Diagnosed?

If you have symptoms of a brain tumor, your doctor may perform
one of the following to make a diagnosis:

a neurological examination to determine if a
tumor is affecting your brain

imaging tests, such as CT, MRI, and positron
emission tomography (PET) scans, to locate the tumor

a lumbar puncture, which is a procedure that
collects a small sample of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord,
to check for cancer cells

a brain biopsy, which is a surgical procedure in
which a small amount of the tumor is removed for diagnostic testing and to
determine if your tumor is malignant

How
Is Brain Cancer Treated?

There are several treatments for brain cancer. Treatment for
primary brain cancer will be different than treatment for metastatic brain
tumors. Treatment for metastatic cancer will be more focused on the original
cancer site.

You may receive one or more treatments depending on the type,
size, and location of your brain tumor. Your age and general health are also
factors. Treatments include:

Surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment for brain cancer. Sometimes,
only part of your tumor can be removed due to its location. In some instances,
a tumor is located in a sensitive or inaccessible area of your brain, and
surgery to remove it can’t be performed. These kinds of tumors are referred to
as inoperable.

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

You may be given chemotherapy drugs to destroy cancer cells in
your brain and to shrink your tumor. Chemotherapy drugs may be given orally or
intravenously. Radiation therapy may be recommended to destroy tumor tissue or
cancer cells that cannot be surgically removed. This is done with high-energy
waves, such as X-rays. Sometimes, you may need to undergo chemotherapy and
radiation therapy at the same time. Chemotherapy may also be done after
radiation treatment.

Biologic Drugs

Your doctor may prescribe biologic drugs to boost, direct, or
restore your body’s natural defenses against your tumor. For example, the drug
bevacizumab works to stop the growth of blood vessels that supply tumors.

Other Medications

Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat symptoms and side
effects caused by your brain tumor and brain cancer treatments.

Clinical Trials

In advanced cases of brain cancer that don’t respond to
treatment, clinical trial therapies and medications may be used. These are
treatments that are still in the testing phase.

Rehabilitation

You may need to go through rehabilitation if your cancer has
caused damage in your brain that affects your ability to talk, walk, or perform
other normal functions. Rehabilitation includes physical therapy, occupational
therapy, and other therapies that can help you relearn activities.

Alternative Therapies

There isn’t a lot of scientific research that supports the use of
alternative therapies to treat brain cancer. However, your doctor may recommend
that you combine alternative therapies or lifestyle changes with conventional
treatments. For example, they may recommend a healthy diet and vitamin and
mineral supplementation to replace nutrients lost from your cancer treatment.
They may also recommend acupuncture and certain herbs. You should talk to your
doctor before taking herbs because some can interfere with medications.

Long-Term
Outlook

Your long-term outlook depends on the type, size, and location of
your brain tumor. Brain cancer generally has a low survival rate. However, the American
Cancer Society reports that for some types of brain cancer, up to 90
percent of patients between the ages of 20 and 44 survive for five years or
longer. Some brain cancer treatments can increase your risk of getting other
cancerous tumors or may cause cataracts, which is clouding of the eyes.

Reducing
Your Risk of Brain Cancer

There’s no way to prevent brain cancer, but you can reduce your
risk of getting it if you:

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your health care provider. Please consult a health care professional with any health concerns you may have.